jo8 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



and set in an eternal rest: if relations of number 

 persist, there can be neither union nor division. 

 Two forces may be conceived as becoming one force, 

 as two dew drops may merge in one, or one force may 

 be thought of as dividing into two ; but if the one 

 continues one and the plural remains plural, there can 

 be neither union nor division throughout all time. In 

 like manner, if the relations of quantity remain fixed 

 there cannot be either addition or diminution : if 

 relations of quality are constant, the universe is 

 doomed to everlasting sameness ; differences of kind 

 cannot arise ; the homogeneous can never become 

 heterogeneous. 



Passing by all other relations, Mr. Spencer deals 

 only with that of cause and effect, arid to it applies 

 his axiom. " Every antecedent mode of the Unknow- 

 able must have an invariable connection, quantitative 

 and qualitative, with that mode of the Unknowable 

 which we call its consequent. For to say otherwise 

 is to deny the persistence of force. If in any two 

 cases there is exact likeness, not only between those 

 most conspicuous antecedents which we distinguish 

 as the causes, but also between those accompanying 

 antecedents which we call the conditions, we cannot 

 affirm that the effects will differ, without affirming 

 either that some force has come into existence or 

 that some force has ceased to exist."* 



* First Principles, G3. 



